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In Obedience to the Act of the 11th of his present Majesty for Repairing, Amending [and] Supporting the several sea Ports and Harbours of the Isle of Man. The following account of the true State and Condition thereof and of the Several Piers and Works thereunto belonging is laid before the Commissioners appointed for the Execution of the said Act.
The Great Mole or Pier of this Harbour Extending from the Town of Douglas Eastwards towards the Sea, together with the Light House on the East End thereof being (except a small part adjacent to the Town) Demolished by a Violent Storm on the [] 11th March 1769 And Rebuilt pursuant to directions from the Right Honbl the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's treasury who in Compassion to the Inhabitants of [this] Isle on account of this Distressful accident allowed money to be advanced for [this] purpose out of his Majesty's Duties. This new constructed Pier greatly exceeds [the] Original one in point of Stability and the present Lighthouse is higher & in every respect more advantageous than the former. As these Works are compleated in the [ ] Sufficient manner the Nature of the Materials admitt Nothing seems requisite for [the] Security except a Butress to be raised in a Sloping form at the East end of the Pier, in order [to] break the force of the Waves which in hard Gales of Wind act on this part with amazing Violence.
The Lesser Mole which was Erected on the South side of the Harbour with design to break the force of the Waves at its Entrance being also Demolished in the foresaid Storm, hath not been Rebuilt. Because in the Oponion of Persons most Experienced in these matters, that Fabrick was rather Detrimental to the Harbour than Otherwise by rendering the Entrance too narrow & causing a Reverbization of the Waves, whereby smaller Vessels were frequently cast on the Adjoining Rocks.
To prevent Vessells from Striking upon the Ruins of this Mole a Perch is erected. Now [ ] as these Ruins are quite covered at high Water thay are still Dangerous to Vessels entering in the Night time, or in hard Gale of Wind. Therefore it is submitted to the Consideration of the Commissioners whether they ought not to be removed. And likewise certain Rocks lying under them Quarried & levelled with the Rest of the Beach.
That part of the Mole first mentioned which remained undemolished by the Storm in March [1769] Upon Examination and appears in a very bad condition owing to its being built originally with [] very insufficient manner, by filling the Middle or body of the Pier with loose Stones [&] Gravel, which swelling with the Water bulges the Outer Wall Especially that on the [inside] of the Harbour, so as to be be in Danger of falling. It is sumitted therefore therefore whether this [] the Pier at least so much of it as is quite Ruinous ought not to be taken down and in a more Sufficient manner,
The Piers & Quays on the North side of the Harbour extending from the Part of the Mole [above]mentioned to the Bridge at the West end thereof along which Vessels most usually Load and [ ] cargo are in good and sufficient Condition, the Stone Work of many of the Slips or landing [places] which were greatly damaged by the Storms of last Wnter being lately repaired, and [such]of the Timbers as were broken & Decayed renewed.
The South side of the Harbour opposite to the Town contain Quays or Stairs having been lately [built] by the Proprietors of the Houses for the Smoking of Herrings for the more convenient landing [&] Shipping of their Fish. And as it was a Bye Law Estabished by the former [owners?] that when Quays were Built for private Convenience the Person who obtained [leave ?] to erect them should bear the expence of the Original Building, and provided the Work was [deemed?] good & Sufficient they should be afterwards supported out of the Public Funds, in order that no Person might have a private or Exclusive Right of Wharfage to any part of the Harbour. [This] Rule or Usage appearing both just and reasonable hath been observed in the instances before mentioned, and the aforesaid Quays being judged to be well & Sufficiently built are henceforth to be regarded as a part of the Work belonging to the Harbour.
[The] Mole or Pier on the South East side of the Bay of Darbyhaven extending from [St.] Michaels Isle to the Mainland in length about 240 yards, not having been Built up to [its] intended height at the time the Harbours of this Isle were vested in the Crown, still remains in the Condition it was then left. The Tide flowing over it about three feet at High Water, as this Mole or Pier is a great security to Vessels within the Bay 'tis submitted whether it ought not to be Compleated according to the Original Plan.
As the Bay of Darbyhaven is properly speaking a land locked place wherein Ships may safely moor, rather than Artificial Harbour (no Works having been built except the Mole before mentioned) proper care hath been taken to erect Perches to point out the safest Channel.
In the Harbour of Castletown, the Mole or Pier extending from the Bridge along the West side of the River towards the Sea, being the only Work thereunto belonging, is in tolerable good Condition and will require but little Repairs to secure it against the storms of the Ensuing Winter. However this Harbour is greatly defective both in point of Security & convenience, it is submitted what new Works may be requisite for its improvement.
The Bay of Port La Marie within the Limits of this Port affording a Safe Anchorage [for] Vessels in Certain Winds Perches are placed to direct them to their proper Moorings.
The Pier or Mole of this Harbour extending from the Castle of Peel Eastwards formerly erected in order to secure the Entrance from the Bay, hath been Totally Demolished by the [storm] and Lying in Ruins. The Timbers belonging to it, wch formed a fence for the Security of the Stone Work have been carefully Collected & preserved by his Majesty's Officers in order to be sold or applied, as may be thought proper, for the Benefit of the Harbour. [The] Value thereof according to an Estimate taken, and to you Exhibited is £33:10.
The other Mole or Pier extending from the said Castle of Peel Southwards to the Main[land] is in a very Ruinous Condition, and the several sums from time to time have been expended in reparation of it, as Breaches happened to be made.
Nothing more could be done than merely to prevent its being intirely demolished. of which it is still in Danger from the Storms of the ensuing Winter if certain [ ] are not immediately repaired.
The Interior Quays on the side of the River adjacent to the Town of Peel are [ ] in a Decayed Condition, and the Small Pier in particular at the North End [ ] in hazard of being Totally Ruined, if not speedily secured.
The Pier Erected on the South side of the River of Ramsey along wch Vessels usualy Moor being regularly kept in repairs, is in good Condition. The Lighthouse of this Harbour being lately Glazed & repaired is also in good Condition.
These are all the Works at present belonging to this Harbour, which lies greatly exposed to the Violence of the Sea in Easterly Winds.
It is submitted therefore what new Erections maybe necessary to render more [secure] and Commodious.
[The] Commissioners of the said Harbours having taken into consideration the State as Exhibited to us by his Majestys Receiver General on the 10th Inst antecedant to our Considerations thereon, esteem ourselves in Duty bound most Gratefully to acknowledge the [ ] of the Rt Honble the Lords Commissioners of his Majestys Treasury in [ ing] Money from his Majestys Duties for the rebuilding the Pier & Lighthouses [ ] Principal Port & Harbour wch must otherwise have lain in Ruins to the no small [ ] of the Inhabitants of this Isle. And we happily engage to repay to his Majestys [Receiver] General the money furnish'd as aforesaid, out of such Surplus of the Harbour money as shall annually arise after all Expences necessary for the Security & Support of the Said Harbours are duly paid & discharg'd.
With Respect to the present Condition of the Several Works belonging to the said Harbours [the] same appears to us perfectly conformable to the State now before us. [We] approve particularly of the Bullwark or Buttress propos'd by his Majestys Receiver General for the security of the Light House of the Port of Douglas, and recommend that, and [the] rebuilding the insufficient parts of the old Pier to be executed as soon as the Season [is] favourable for such Works.
[The] Other Works and Repairs proposed also in the said State appear to us extremely proper and requisite for Supporting the said Harbours in their present Condition. But we cannot [at] prersent recommend any further New or Additional Works in any of the aforesaid Harbours untill the Debts due thereon be paid off and both the produce of the Duties to be Levied [complete line lost along a fold] [ ] of the late Act can be properly ascertained.
[Sig]nified at our Meeting at the Custom House of Douglas on this 17th Oct 1771
Thos Durie, Robt Moore, Michl Cullin Commissioners of his Majestys Harbours in the Isle of Man.
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Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
The Editor |
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